Pets

How to Clean a Fish Tank Properly, According to Experts

Freshwater fish are one of the most popular pets in the world. In the U.S. alone, more than 7 million individuals have fish tanks at home.

They might not be as interactive as dogs or cats, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be great pets. In fact, they can even benefit your health!

For example, studies have found that they can reduce your risk of heart disease. In addition to that, they can help reduce anxiety and stress.

Thinking of getting an aquarium? Want to learn how to clean a fish tank? Then make sure to read the rest of the post!

The Importance of Cleaning Your Fish Tank

The water in your aquarium can easily hurt your fish if it’s not maintained correctly. Take nitrates, for example, they can be toxic in high concentrations.

In some cases, dirty water can also lead to flukes—worm-like parasites that can affect the health of your fish. If that happens, you’ll have to find the correct treatment for full eradication.

The bottom line is, you want to make sure to clean your fish tank on a regular basis. While it depends on how many fish you have, it’s a good idea to do so every week or two.

A Short Guide on How to Clean a Fish Tank

There are several things that you need to do when you’re cleaning a fish tank. Here are some tips.

Changing the Water

The easiest way to change the water is to use a water siphon. Not only will it remove water from the tank but it’ll also remove debris from the gravel.

Once you’re done using the siphon, re-fill the tank with dechlorinated water.

Note: Make sure that the water you add is the same temperature as your tank water—you don’t want to stress out your fish.

Cleaning the Inner Glass

Chances are, there will be some algae on the inside of the glass. You can remove it by using a long-handled scrubber or scraper.

In some cases, you may need to use a razor blade to scrape it off. For the best results, hold the blade at a 45-degree angle to the glass wall.

Cleaning Decorations

Remove rocks and decorations from the tank and give them a good scrub in warm water. Do not use soap—even a small amount can be harmful to fish.

If necessary, you can soak the items in a 10 percent bleach solution for ten minutes. Scrub off any remaining residue and rinse well under running water.

Cleaning the Filter

Aquarium filters should be cleaned every 2-3 weeks. The first thing that you want to do is scoop out some water from the tank—you’ll be using it to clean the filter.

Next, remove the sponge or pad that’s inside the filter and wash it with the water that you’ve scooped out. Gently squeeze it with your hand to remove the gunk.

It’s crucial that you do not wash the filter with tap water as that’ll kill off the beneficial bacteria.

Keeping Your Fish Tank Clean

And there you have it—a short guide on how to clean a fish tank. If anything, the most important thing is to do it regularly.

Check out the rest of our pet section if you’re looking for more similar posts!

4 thoughts on “How to Clean a Fish Tank Properly, According to Experts

  1. Great list!Liked everything that you shared.I do a 40% /50 % water change every 7/10 days . I’ve always done it this much and my fish are very healthy and my water stays very clean. I don’t clean my filter very often though, I let it sit for months until it’s disgusting. But In my opinion frequent water changes are best, I never let mine go longer than 14 days without a water change. . I sometimes just do 30 or 25% just depending how much I’ve been feeding them.

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